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MIAMI (CBS4) – Suzanne Wheeler is the mother of three hungry boys and it shows on her grocery bill.

“I typically spend $300 a week,” explained Wheeler.

Recently, she’s noticed that some of her favorite foods are eating away at her budget.

“Cookies, in the cookie aisle, crackers, those can be pricey. Cereal is also very expensive,” said Wheeler.

Those creeping prices are thanks to inflation.

Ricky Volpe, a research economist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said you can expect your grocery basket to cost 2.5% to 3.5% more over the course of this year. And while that inflation rate is considered normal…

“The reason why consumers are experiencing sticker shock is mostly because food prices are already high. We know that they rose a lot in 2011, and we’re not expecting them to come down,” said Volpe.

Inflation is especially hard to swallow for meat and fish. Volpe says prices are up across the board, particularly for beef and veal.

“The inventory of cattle and hogs in the U.S. was reduced quite a bit, and now we have strong and growing demand for these foods, and that’s a recipe for high prices. And there’s no end in sight,” was Volpe’s assessment.

But there are ways to fight back. Jessica Patel with Bankrate.com suggests trying a less expensive cut of beef, or substitution poultry. Also, said Volpe, “You can get canned chicken now and canned fish and things like that, and even frozen fish and frozen meats, that can wind up saving you more.”

Other categories hit hard by inflation include fats and oils, cereal, bakery products and packaged foods.